President Bowen Announces Contract Campaign Kick-Off

Updated: November 20, 2017

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A Message From President Barbara Bowen

On Monday, December 4, the PSC will hold a major demonstration to start our campaign for a strong new contract. No more six-year delays! If a fair and prompt contract is a priority for you, make it a priority to be there on December 4.

The current PSC contract expires on November 30, and the first Board of Trustees meeting after the expiration is on December 4. On that day we will march from the CUNY Graduate Center in midtown Manhattan to the Board meeting to demand swift, serious action on a good contract. Sign up here and be among the first to make a commitment to join the demonstration.

The CUNY trustees are political appointees, and our contract is a political fight. That's why we must take our issue into the streets and directly into CUNY's boardroom. The successes that CUNY management likes to boast about are possible only because of our work. It's time for CUNY faculty and staff-in every job title-to be paid competitively for the essential work we do.

The lesson of our last contract struggle was that management changes its position only when the PSC takes mass action. In the last round of bargaining, it took thousands of signatures, scores of protests, 100 arrests and a strike authorization vote to get CUNY to move. The political situation in the city and state is different this time, but given the prevailing agenda of austerity for public workers and the population we teach, we have to be prepared to fight for what we need.

Contract negotiations are about power, and the one thing that matters is numbers. None of us can afford to leave the December 4 demonstration to somebody else. If a good contract is important to you, you need to be there.

You will hear more in the coming weeks about plans for the event, but start planning now so that you can be sure to be there. The PSC is a powerful union-but only if we use our power. Do your part by showing up on Monday, December 4. This is a fight we can win.